Abstract

Background: Globally, severe acute malnutrition (SAM) remains a major killer of children under 5 years of age. The highest magnitude is seen in sub-Saharan Africa, including Ethiopia. Hypoglycemia is the most common complication of severe acute malnutrition (SAM) and the most life-threatening condition in pediatric society. However, there is limited evidence from Ethiopia to assess the prevalence of hypoglycemia and associated factors among severely malnourished children. The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of hypoglycemia and its associated factors among under-five children with severe acute malnutrition who were admitted to public hospitals in the East Gojjam zone.

Methods: A cross-sectional retrospective study was conducted from August 01 to 30/2022 among 378 randomly selected samples who admitted public hospitals in East Gojjam zone from 2018 to 2021. Data was extracted from the medical records of the children and entered into SPSS version 26, which analyzed it. Model goodness-of-fit was checked by the Hosmer and lemesho test. Variables with a p-value<0.25 in the Bivariate analysis were a candidate for multivariable logistic regression and those with a p-value<0.05 in the multivariable analysis were considered as having statistically significant association with hypoglycemia among sever acute malnutrition.

Result: Out of 378 respondents, 50 (13.2%) had hypoglycemia with sever acute malnutrition patient. Children admitted between the ages of 0-6 month were 2.93 (AOR = 1.57-6.25, p=0.000), shock were 4.6 (AOR = 1.25-17.42, p=0.034) and fully immunized children were (AOR: 2.61 (1.01- 6.77, p=0.048) was significantly associated with hypoglycemia with sever acute malnutrition.

Conclusion: The prevalence of hypoglycemia with severe acute malnutrition was 13.2%. Age between 0-6 month, shock and children fully immunized were statistically significant factors for hypoglycemia in severe acute malnutrition. We also recommend a longitudinal study should be done among children’s who develop hypoglycemia with sever acute malnutrition to determine the long-term consequences especially the neurodevelopmental sequelae associated with this condition.